Cesar: We have Euro know-how this term
CESAR AZPILICUETA says Chelsea learned a big Champions League lesson against Bayern Munich last season – and now have the players to prove it.
A young Blues team were given a big reality check after getting pummelled 3-0 at home and 4-1 away by Bayern, who went on to win the trophy.
But Chelsea have since signed Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who all have major Champions League experience.
And with their young players now aware of what it takes to win at the highest level, Azpilicueta insists things will be different against Sevilla tonight.
He said: “We had players who had never tasted Champions League football. Our last experience was against Bayern and they were the best in Europe last season.
“We could see where we have to be to challenge the best. We could see where we had to go, the intensity, the concentration, the focus in every single ball.
“That’s what it takes to compete at the highest level and hopefully from that moment we could learn. We have the chance now to show how we’ve improved.
“It’s true we didn’t start the way we wanted to in the Premier League and the cup but this is a completely new challenge.”
Chelsea have been let down by a woeful defensive record this season and drew 3-3 at home to Southampton on Saturday. Frank Lampard will make a late call on whether to drop blunder keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
But Azpilicueta added: “I have no doubt Kepa will work hard to reverse the situation.
“What is clear is if we want to fight for everything we have to improve defensively.”